The Commo Satellite is rugged design that serves in a variety of roles. Most typically it is positioned in a stable orbit around a world and serves as both a defense-related early warning system and a communications relay. Its onboard sensor array may occasionally be used as a scientific observatory or for survey purposes, typically monitoring weather patterns and stellar conditions. Similar designs have been in use from the time the Distant Fringe was first settled.

The satellite mounts a Maneuver-1 drive and a Power Plant-1, giving performance of up to 1-G acceleration (though generally the drives are only used for orbital positioning) and producing 0.06 Energy Points. The satellite has an agility rating of 1. The internal fuel tankage gives the power plant 7 weeks duration at full output: the satellite generally operates in a reduced power mode, drawing additional power from a stellar array, increasing its endurance exponentially.

The engineering section is controlled from the main control room. Access to the machinery can be gained via a sealed hatch.

The array has an area of 27m² and typically generates around 0.7 Mw (less than 0.003 Energy Points), depending on the star type and satellite's orbital distance from it. This trickle of power is enough to maintain powered down onboard electronics and the basic sensors almost indefinitely.

The mountings and equipment for the array have a volume of 0.2 dTons and costs MCr0.054 to replace.

The array is dismountable for ease of transport. The component parts can be disassembled and packed into a 6.25m³ (0.5 dTon) storage unit.

The array is relatively fragile and may collapse if subjected to significant stresses such as acceleration while it is deployed.

Build times can be reduced by mass production and the efficiencies such processes generate, by increased financing, and by allotting additional yard resources and facilities to the construction contract.

Commo Satellites are generally deployed in small groups into geosynchronous orbits around a world, relaying data between each orbital unit and the surface.

The Commo Satellite is representative of designs used throughout the Distant Fringe. It is rugged and durable giving it a long service life: the tough hulls are often stripped and refitted with upgraded electronics. Large numbers of variants exist, particularly with regard to the allotted weapons systems and onboard electronics.

A number of companies manufacture satellites equivalent to the Comstar class. They vary in hull shape and internal layout but all share the same basic design and all have very similar capabilities and performance characteristics.

Each variant class is named by the company that produces it: these organizations generally draw on approved naming protocols. It is not uncommon for a historical class name to be reused.

Individual examples of the class are issued specific serial numbers and transponder codes.